Takes

If Ben Simmons is faking mental health issues to avoid playing, he is setting mental health awareness back significantly

I applaud Ben Simmons for being so brave. Yes, exactly. I would like to agree. Yeah. I would say it's okay to not be okay... If he is faking it, he's actually setting mental health way back way.

Ben Simmons is the reason the Philadelphia 76ers have been held back

I keep saying it and I feel like there's some people who still don't understand it. Like Ben Simmons is the reason why the Sixers have been held back. It's not that he, like if Joel Embiid was holding out, it'd be a completely different scenario here because Joel Embiid is their best player by far in away.

I am officially on my 'last straw' with the Washington Football Team's organization

My announcement is I am officially on my last straw. Washington football team last straw. In fact, I went out, I bought a straw... If it gets anything bad, happens to the point where I, I lose faith in this organization again. Well, what, what Hank you, what else could they do that during my soul to you? They're only good players dead. And they fucked up his retirement ceremony.

The internet should be shut down or strictly monitored

It's really a, it's a low point, you know, point in, I think the internet should be shut down and, or at least monitored. You gotta somehow, like I've been doing this bit about in cells that, you know, a bunch of people who aren't don't know how to talk to women, talk to a bunch of other people don't know how to talk to women. And in the end, they're all blaming women.

NFL ratings and money are the only reason quarterbacks are over-protected by rules

I think their ratings went down when quarterbacks got hurt and people didn't want to watch the games. So they just started protecting them more so than they ever did... I always choose this money. It's always been about the money. If they actually cared about the players, they wouldn't address this issue decades ago.

John Gruden's $100 million contract was fair because his presence makes teams money

Overrated 10 million a year for John Gruden is a fair fucking price... when the Raiders, when he coaches the Raiders, the Raider fans show up, they make money and they become a competitive team. That's a hundred million dollar contract. You over 10 years. That's 10 million a year. That's chicken, shit money.

I could have been a great NFL linebacker at my peak

I believe I could have been a great linebacker. Oh yeah. Yeah. I think I would have, you know, I love Aaron Donald and he's probably my favorite player. So I watch a little bit because of this guy... I believe I could have been a great, you know, linebacker.

LeBron James is the ultimate package and a perfect role model

I think LeBron is the ultimate package, you know, he is a great, you know, athlete, you know, he's a great human being... the longevity the way, you know, he's been so consistent over there in a long time. He's 37 now he's a year older than me. So, you know, I always just aspire to be like him.

Ryen Russillo would beat the Pardon My Take crew in a fight because he holds so much internal anger

I actually have a different take on it. I think Russillo holds so much anger in his shoulders and neck from various people online saying, oh, did you vote for Trump because of the taxes that he would probably kick all of our assets... he would cave my Skullet.

LSU is a top-three job in college football and better than USC

LSU is a top three job. I would say in college football... I mean the stat that everyone's keeps throwing out and it is crazy to think the last three coaches at LSU all won national titles... I think [LSU is a better job] because no one competes with LSU now in Louisiana. They don't have the in-state talent. They get to keep.

The NHL needs to implement a soft cap and luxury tax

I think it's ridiculous the fact that because of all that stuff that some teams got jammed up where they can't even keep the players that they drafted and developed... I think that in that case, maybe they can eliminate that or, or penalize that more. I just feel that if you're drafting and developing players and then you're being punished for it... it seems a little bit contradictory.

Trevor Lawrence is the greatest rookie quarterback of all time given the circumstances

Trevor Lawrence is actually the greatest rookie quarterback of all time given the circumstances, given the fact that his coach [Urban Meyer] is the horniest guy in the world, the team stinks... he's providing a steady hand and he's guiding this franchise during a tumultuous time.

You cannot trust a left-handed quarterback

I do think when you're a wait and see guy and your guy that might not be very good is also a lefty... I don't know, I really do think lefties, I think we've heard players say that it's weird, it's different catching a ball from a lefty... I've just always thought lefties are weird.

Streaming services should pay to show fans running on the field

Have there be a policy on your streaming service that you will always show any fan that runs on the field. You can pay extra for that. I would absolutely be like, alright, I'm going to watch this game on Peacock and not on NBC.

Patrick Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the NFL

Yeah, he's still the best quarterback in the NFL when he's like—the reason why he gets like rope here, it's just the same way that like Aaron Rodgers gets rope... I'm not concerned long term.

The Washington Football Team exploited Sean Taylor's death to distract from front office scandals

If they literally were exploiting Sean Taylor's death, the one player that I care about... to get the stank off of their front office, that's a new low. And I think they were. I might be out.

Tony Romo is no longer a top-tier announcer

That's probably if like in 20 years when they write the book about Pardon My Take, I think that like us being the first to say Tony Romo not that good. That'd be a big one.

The 49ers are my second favorite team and I love Kyle Shanahan

I'm rooting for the Niners number two. Big Niners guy. I like the Niners. I like [Kyle] Shanahan. I think he's a good coach. I like the defense. I like [George] Kittle, even though he's hurt right now. I grew up loving the 49ers.

Never plan a Saturday night dinner for a bachelor party

The biggest tip I always give is don't plan a dinner for Saturday night. That's the dumbest thing ever. It's like a tranquilizer dart to your face. You drink all day Saturday, and then you have this... big steak dinner on Saturday night, and then there's just no party afterwards because it's like, holy shit, we drank all day, then we ate a big meal. Who wants to go out after that?

You cannot be a diehard fan of two rival teams from the same city

I agree with this premise, by the way. If you are a diehard fan of one team from your hometown, you can't be a diehard fan of the equal and opposite team from that hometown... if you're John Cusack and you grew up in Chicago... he's a guy that should only be able to pick one of those two teams.

Justin Herbert is currently the best-playing quarterback in the NFL

Who is the quarterback you think is playing the best right this second? [Booger]: Justin Herbert. I don't think it's close. We paid so much attention to his personality that we overlooked his talent. And the Miami Dolphins did so much that they took Tua in front of him. How about them apples?

Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the NFL right now

Josh Allen just threw a bomb. He's so fucking good. He's so fucking good. Best quarterback in the league right now. Who says no?

Urban Meyer is addicted to lying

I actually think that Urban Meyer is addicted to lying. I think he loves to lie. I think even when he doesn't have a reason to be lying about something, he opens his mouth and the first words that come out are not the truth. That's just how he operates. His reality is different from what you and I see.

Mac Jones is the greatest six-yard thrower in NFL history

Mac Jones, probably the greatest six-yard thrower in the history of NFL football. It's my favorite. Patriots now, it's basically... the six-yard play over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Beating Alabama in the SEC is as meaningful as winning a national title

Beating Alabama, if you're in the SEC, if you beat Alabama, that's almost as good as winning a national title in terms of like, you'd be like, well, we beat Alabama a couple years ago.

The Cowboys are currently #2 in the NFL if we used BCS rankings

If we did BCS rankings for the teams right now, I think the Super Bowl would maybe be the Cardinals versus the Cowboys because the Cowboys have the best loss. I think the Cowboys might be number two in the BCS.

You get rich through saving money, not just earning it

I fly on a plane called Ryanair. That's the cheapest you can fly on in England... In 10, 15 years, when all the boxing's done and all these idiots are all flat broke... I'll still be a multimillionaire. Because it's not how much you can earn. It's how much you can save.

Dillinger was a better bull than Bodacious

I'd be a Dillinger guy. As far as what a guy would want to see out of a bucking bull as a rider, I think that Dillinger was a way better bull.

Ted Bundy is a wildly overrated serial killer

Ted Bundy is wildly overrated. I mean, I... Ted Bundy was overrated as a killer. He's just good looking.

I would average 20 points and 20 rebounds in today's NBA

I'd probably get 20-20. One thing about rebound now is the field goal percentage is probably down 3 or 4% than when we played... more three-pointers being taken, so that means maybe more rebound opportunities... They can't shoot, really. I mean, the shooting is bad.

P.J. Tucker is the toughest guy in the NBA right now

I don't know who tough. I mean, I ain't seen a fight. I see it by the hug and kissing... maybe Tucker. P.J. Tucker. I mean, I like the way he played, and he got up in KD, phased in, back down.

Michael Jordan is #1 all-time and LeBron James is #2

MJ1, LeBron2. They always want to throw a center at 30, so we're going to have to give it to probably Kareem or Shaq.

Taylor Heinicke is a young Ryan Fitzpatrick

Taylor Heinicke is just a young Ryan Fitzpatrick because he's fucking psycho. He doesn't play by any of the rules... He loves throwing across his body. He loves throwing across the field. He loves almost getting sacked. It's crazy.

The Cowboys are better than the Packers

I think the Cowboys are better than you think they are. I think they're better than the Packers... Right now, I think they're better than Packers. Complete team.

Urban Meyer's wife sent him to the bar to get his charisma back

I think Shelly Meyer might win wife of the year... led me to believe that she was like, 'Urban, go out and remember why you're Urban Meyer. Go out and hit on some chicks and get that swagger back. Get that charisma back. Get that fucking confidence back.' I think she actually sent him out to be like, go out, pick up a chick. Don't have sex with her, but pick her up and remind yourself why you're the alpha.

My AEW return at the United Center is the number one moment of my career

Number one easily, number one far and away. What that represented, what the moment was far and away. Number one moment in my career, easily, easily. It's like number one. And then there's a gap. And then there's number two.

AEW wins if they just focus on putting out a better product than WWE

The only thing we have to do is put out a better product and we win in my opinion. You know, we don't have a show that goes head to head on Mondays. We're not trying to quote unquote, put them out of business. My take on that is if we just focus on ourselves and we tighten up all our screws and we make our show better then we win.

WWE fosters a culture where wrestlers are encouraged to step on each other's necks

Vince always fostered this, this a culture where he wanted everybody at their throat. He wanted people stepping on your neck to get to where you are and ahead of you and all that other stuff. And now I think there's wrestlers on both sides who were like, whatever, let's all go get pancakes.

Nick Sirianni's highlighter thing looks stupid

I think Nick Sirianni was like, I need a thing as a coach to be identified as... I'm going to be the highlighter guy and you have to win. It looks stupid.

Bally Sports has the worst on-screen presentation

The only thing I can say is fuck Bally Sports. They have the worst by far [on-screen presentation].

Joe West is a baseball great and deserves appreciation

Joe West is what we need. He's an all-time great. Joe West is baseball. And if you don't like Joe West, you got a dump in your pants.

The 1985 Bears were a better defense than the 2000 Ravens

I'll say it's the 85 Bears. And the only reason I say that is they beat you before the game was ever played. People were scared, scared to death over that team.

Justin Tucker is the best kicker in NFL history

Justin Tucker Carlson go super far right on an early kick before lining up from 66 at the buzzer and ending the lions chances... Is he the greatest kicker of all time? I know Adam Vinatieri obviously has the most clutch kicks, but Justin Tucker is insane.

Keenan Allen has been a top five receiver for the last six years

We should respect Keenan Allen, because nobody ever mentions him in the list of like the top five receivers in the NFL. And he has been a top five guy when healthy. He's been a top five guy for probably the last six years.

Jalen Ramsey is the only cornerback who can physically cover Rob Gronkowski.

Jalen Ramsey is really the only person who fits Jalen Ramsey's description of a quarterback that can cover Gronk. Cause Jalen is a big dude. He's strong, he's got coverage skills and he can tackle.

Zach Wilson's interceptions were caused by a groin injury.

The groin really impacts your ability to drive your hips into throws. Those last two interceptions were both just short arms, short throws that got picked off.

The College Football Playoff should expand to eight teams, but not twelve.

I liked the expanding to eight, not 12... eight is my number. I think 12, you look at the number of games and I think coaches would manage that... but I think selfishly for our league [Big Ten] eight is better.

Officials changed how they called the game in the second half of the 2015 National Championship.

I'm pissed because the officials changed out. They called the game from first to second half... Coach K worked really hard... and they changed how they called the game and I will say that to my dying day.

Defensive backs should only be allowed to celebrate incomplete passes if they actually touch the ball

If you're a defensive back and a pass is thrown incomplete, you should not be allowed to celebrate that ever. Unless you touch the past the billboard rule... you're not allowed to do the incomplete sign. You're not allowed to get up in the receiver's face. If he drops a pass or it's overthrown, you're not allowed to celebrate that.

The traditional NFL broadcast is still better than the Manningcast for watching an entire game

My only thing is that it's good, but I feel like the regular broadcast is still better. Like when I'm watching the Manning broadcast, it just doesn't feel like a big game. It's casual and it's good, but watching an entire game, I keep switching back to the regular broadcast.